That was one of my concerns, considering his pistions have valve reliefs already in them.

The patriot heads are that bad? Seems like people tend to make decent power with them or the PRC versions too.

Not to mention def cant spend 2400 on a set of heads. Might be able score a set of used TFS or AFRs but even then there near 2000 most of the time.

The 5.3's are still limited by their casting, you get most of the power from the compression bump. You would probably get almost as much from a stock LS6 casting for 1/2 the price

5.3's are not limited by the casting. They can be ported the same as the other heads.

Patriot heads are a POS.The castings are GM blemish,alot of them leak coolant.Alot make 0 hp,some make 20-30hp. crap shoot.

We all know you need the shortblock freshened up.Doing more work/$$ on the topend makes little sence till the lowerend is taken care of.

I would say. Rebuilt shortblock at minimum, TSP 5.3L heads,high 220 cam.

Or keep it the way it is and enjoy it.

Point well taken Don.

Just hate to pass up a free cam/valvesprings, but if will only hurt me and wont work with heads and a FAST setup then I probably wont even bother then.

Take the free parts. Sell the cam and your existing cam. I will spec you a Cam that will work with the springs. Leave the stock heads/intake.

Doesnt sound like a bad idea. He just had his 2nd child yesterday, so once we get his car back up and going, I will talk to him about maybe just getting the valvesprings from his because he already told me he will let me have the cam only if I use it. But I can still sell my 224 and have you spec me one out.

What about the tune in my car? My buddie said he can pull it for me and e-mail it to you so you could tweak it if need be and just email it back to him.

If he has EFI live we can go back/forth and tune it in.

I will be in Sarasota in Febuary.

He has Hp tuners unfortunatly, but if your in Sarasota in February then that gives me time to get something going and maybe we can hook up or something then.

I might be starting to work my father-in-law making some good money, but our first job is up in Baltimore and it starts Wednesday. I will be in touch with ya.